Latest content added for UNT Digital Library Collection: UNT Theses and Dissertationshttp://digital.library.unt.edu/explore/collections/UNTETD/browse/?fq=untl_institution:UNT&sort=title&fq=str_degree_department:Department+of+Accounting2014-08-22T18:00:56-05:00UNT LibrariesThis is a custom feed for browsing UNT Digital Library Collection: UNT Theses and DissertationsAccounting for Human Resources: Implications for Theory and Practice.2007-09-25T22:58:40-05:00http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3026/<p><a href="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3026/"><img alt="Accounting for Human Resources: Implications for Theory and Practice." title="Accounting for Human Resources: Implications for Theory and Practice." src="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc3026/small/"/></a></p><p>Knowledge workers are an important resource for the typical modern business firm, yet financial reporting ignores such resources. Some researchers contend that the accounting profession has stressed reliability in order to make the accounting appear objective. Others concur, noting that accounting is an insecure profession and adopts strict rules when faced with uncertainty. Accountants have promulgated a strict rule to expense human resource costs, although many know that such resources have future benefits. Some researchers suggest that any discipline must modify its language in order to initiate change toward providing useful social ameliorations. If accounting theorists extend this idea to the accounting lexicon.s description of investments in human resources, investors and other accounting user groups might gain greater insight into how a firm fosters and nourishes human capital. I tested three hypotheses related to this issue by administering an experiment designed to assess financial analysts. perceptions about alternative financial statement treatments of human resources in an investment recommendation task. I predicted that (1) analysts' perceptions of the reliability (relevance) of the information they received would decrease (increase) as the treatment of human resources increasingly violated GAAP (became more current-oriented), (2) analysts exposed to alternative accounting treatments would report a lower likelihood of recommending that their clients invest in the company in the task, and (3) financial analysts who ranked reliability (relevance) as a more important information quality would be less (more) likely to recommend that their clients buy the stock represented in the case because the treatment of human resources on the financial statements violated GAAP (was more current-oriented) as compared to analysts who ranked reliability (relevance) as being lower (higher) in importance. Analysts receiving financial statements with accounting treatments of human resource costs that violated GAAP judged such information as less reliable and were also less likely to recommend that their clients buy the stock in the task than analysts receiving financial statements that conformed to GAAP. Also, analysts who perceived reliability as a more important information quality reacted more negatively to a replacement cost approach to accounting for human resources than participants who perceived reliability as being less important. A potential confounding explanation of the results is the varied language used in the audit opinions included with the treatment financial statements. Whether explained by the audit opinion language or the actual differences contained in the financial statements, the results suggest that an important user group, financial analysts, may be subject to the aura of objectivity suggested by Porter in 1995.</p>Accounting Measurement Bias and Executive Compensation Systems2014-03-26T09:30:20-05:00http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278949/<p><a href="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278949/"><img alt="Accounting Measurement Bias and Executive Compensation Systems" title="Accounting Measurement Bias and Executive Compensation Systems" src="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278949/small/"/></a></p><p>This dissertation presents empirical evidence intended to help answer two research questions. The first question asks whether executive compensation systems appear to exploit the bias in accounting-based performance measures in order to reduce the volatility in executive compensation and to allocate incentives more effectively across the range of activities performed by the executive. The second question asks whether compensation systems systematically differ between firms that use alternative accounting methods and whether any such systematic difference helps explain accounting choice. Parameters estimated in fixed-effects endogenous switching regression models were used to test the risk-shielding and incentive-allocation hypotheses. The models were estimated across a dataset consisting of 1151 executive-year observations of annual compensation paid to 222 top-level executives in 40 oil and gas firms. The dataset was partitioned by accounting method and separate models estimated for the full cost and successful efforts partitions. The tests provided modest support for the risk-shielding and incentive-allocation hypotheses, revealing that accounting measurement bias is used to focus incentives for effort in the exploration activity and to reduce executives' exposure to production risk. The design also allowed an estimate of the proportional change in compensation that was realized from the accounting choice actually made.</p>Accounting Regulation and Information Asymmetry in the Capital Markets: An Empirical Study of Accounting Standard SFAS no 872014-03-24T20:07:29-05:00http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc277661/<p><a href="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc277661/"><img alt="Accounting Regulation and Information Asymmetry in the Capital Markets: An Empirical Study of Accounting Standard SFAS no 87" title="Accounting Regulation and Information Asymmetry in the Capital Markets: An Empirical Study of Accounting Standard SFAS no 87" src="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc277661/small/"/></a></p><p>This study uses both basic and self-selection regression models to test three hypotheses about the effect of SFAS 87 disclosures on information asymmetry during 1985- 1987. Both types of models test the hypotheses after controlling for changes in the inventory holding and order processing costs of the spread, while the self-selection models also control for potential self-selection bias.</p>Alternative Social Security Taxing Schemes: an Analysis of Vertical and Horizontal Equity in the Federal Tax System2014-08-22T18:00:56-05:00http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331574/<p><a href="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331574/"><img alt="Alternative Social Security Taxing Schemes: an Analysis of Vertical and Horizontal Equity in the Federal Tax System" title="Alternative Social Security Taxing Schemes: an Analysis of Vertical and Horizontal Equity in the Federal Tax System" src="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331574/small/"/></a></p><p>The objectives of this study were twofold. One objective was to analyze the effects of growth in the social security tax, when combined with recent changes in U.S. income tax law, on the distribution of the combined income and social security tax burden during the 1980s. The second objective was to estimate the effects of certain proposals for social security tax reform upon that distribution. The above analyses were performed using simulation techniques applied to the 1984 IRS Individual Tax Model File. The data from this file were used to estimate the income and social security tax liabilities for sample taxpayers under tax law in effect in 1980, 1984 and 1988 and under fourteen proposals for social security reform (under 1988 law). The results indicated that the income tax distribution was almost 25 percent more progressive under 1988 tax law than under 1980 tax law. In contrast, the combined distribution of income and social security taxes was almost 25 percent less progressive under 1988 income and social security tax law relative to 1980. Two types of social security tax reform were analyzed. One type consisted of reforms to the basic social security tax structure, such as removal of the earnings ceiling, provision of exemptions and replacement of the current single tax rate with a two-tiered graduated rate structure. The second type of reform consisted of proposals to expand the theoretical tax base subject to the social security levy. The results suggested that these reforms could generate substantial increases in progressivity in the combined tax distribution. In general, it would appear that changes in the social security tax structure could generate greater improvements in progressivity than expansion of the theoretical tax base, although the greatest improvement was associated with a combination of these two reforms. With regard to horizontal equity, expansion of the theoretical tax base generated the most improvement.</p>An Analysis of Confidence Levels and Retrieval of Procedures Associated with Accounts Receivable Confirmations2014-03-26T09:30:20-05:00http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc279326/<p><a href="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc279326/"><img alt="An Analysis of Confidence Levels and Retrieval of Procedures Associated with Accounts Receivable Confirmations" title="An Analysis of Confidence Levels and Retrieval of Procedures Associated with Accounts Receivable Confirmations" src="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc279326/small/"/></a></p><p>The study addresses whether differently ordered accounts receivable workprograms and task experience relate to differences in judgments, confidence levels, and recall ability. The study also assesses how treated and untreated inexperienced and experienced auditors store and recall accounts receivable workprogram steps in memory in a laboratory environment. Additionally, the question whether different levels of experienced auditors can effectively be manipulated is also addressed.</p>An Analysis of Corporate Accounting and Reporting Practices in Bahrain2014-03-24T20:07:29-05:00http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278500/<p><a href="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278500/"><img alt="An Analysis of Corporate Accounting and Reporting Practices in Bahrain" title="An Analysis of Corporate Accounting and Reporting Practices in Bahrain" src="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278500/small/"/></a></p><p>The primary objective of this dissertation is to determine the factors that have shaped the corporate financial reporting practices in Bahrain. Prior researchers have offered two explanations, environmental factors and cultural importation, for the emergence of financial reporting practices in developing countries. The environmental explanation suggests that a nation's financial reporting practices will be shaped by its socioeconomic structure. The cultural importation explanation states that the desire for international legitimacy creates incentives for developing nation to adopt Western financial reporting practices. Bahrain provided an excellent environment in which to examine the two explanations since its public and closed corporations have similar economic characteristics. Only public corporations are legally required to publish financial reports. I posited that public corporations would try to gain legitimacy for their published reports by adopting Western standards, while closed corporations would not have a similar incentive. I used an interpretive framework to analyze the Bahrain socioeconomic environment and to examine the general financial reporting practices of Bahraini corporations. I found that closed corporations provided data responsive to the Bahraini environment. Public corporations, however, adopted International Accounting Standards. My analysis supported prior researchers7 findings that colonialism, the need for international legitimacy, and international audit firms were important factors in gaining acceptance for Western accounting practices. The adoption of Western financial reporting practices may be dysfunctional to a developing nation like Bahrain if these practices do not provide relevant information about corporate performance. Therefore, Bahrain, as well as other developing countries, needs to proceed cautiously before adopting Western corporate reporting practices.</p>An Analysis of Factors Associated with Voluntary Disclosure of Management's Responsibilities for Internal Control2014-03-26T09:30:20-05:00http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278899/<p><a href="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278899/"><img alt="An Analysis of Factors Associated with Voluntary Disclosure of Management's Responsibilities for Internal Control" title="An Analysis of Factors Associated with Voluntary Disclosure of Management's Responsibilities for Internal Control" src="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278899/small/"/></a></p><p>The purpose of this study was to identify company characteristics associated with the presence of disclosures regarding internal control in the annual report. Gibbins, Richardson and Waterhouse [1990] have developed a framework from which to examine financial disclosure,. These authors define two dimensions of a company's disclosure position; opportunism and ritualism. I examined the association between variables representing the dimensions identified by these authors and a company's decision regarding disclosure of a management report on internal control. I compared specific characteristics of companies disclosing this information to those of companies not disclosing. The dependent variable represented the presence or absence of disclosure. I used logit analysis to test the significance of the chosen characteristics relative to the decision to include or exclude a management report on internal control in the annual report. My results were consistent with the existence of ritualism with respect to this issue. Reporting on internal controls was associated with membership in the Financial Executives Institute, auditor choice, certain industry designations and prior inclusion of such a report. FEI membership was closely related to initial reporting decisions as well'. I found evidence of opportunism as well. The likelihood of reporting on internal controls was related to company size (and presumably control strength), and growth rates. I also found an association between reporting and the issuance of publicly traded securities in the succeeding year and more moderate levels of debt relative to an industry average. In addition, I found that initial reporting decisions were associated with external events relating to potential legislation of the reporting issue. This research provides insight into the corporate response to reporting on internal controls.</p>An Analysis of Smoothing of Proved Oil and Gas Reserve Quantities and an Analysis of Bias and Variability in Revisions of Previous Estimates of Proved Oil and Gas Reserve Quantities2014-08-22T18:00:56-05:00http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331283/<p><a href="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331283/"><img alt="An Analysis of Smoothing of Proved Oil and Gas Reserve Quantities and an Analysis of Bias and Variability in Revisions of Previous Estimates of Proved Oil and Gas Reserve Quantities" title="An Analysis of Smoothing of Proved Oil and Gas Reserve Quantities and an Analysis of Bias and Variability in Revisions of Previous Estimates of Proved Oil and Gas Reserve Quantities" src="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331283/small/"/></a></p><p>The purpose of this study is to determine whether oil and gas producing companies smooth their ending reserve quantities. Smoothing is defined as a reduction in variance in the trend of ending reserve quantities over time compared to the trend of ending reserve quantities less the hypothesized smoothing variable over time. This study focuses on two variables that are most susceptible to manipulation—revisions of previous estimates and additions. This study also examines whether revisions are positively or negatively biased and the variability of the revisions. The sample consists of 70 companies chosen from oil & Gas Reserve Disclosures: 1980-1984 Survey of 400 Public Companies by Arthur Andersen and Company. For each company, ending reserve quantities for the years 1978-1984 were regressed over time, and the standard deviation of the estimate (SDE) was calculated. Then the ending reserve quantities less the hypothesized smoothing variable were regressed over time, and the SDE was calculated. A linear model and a semi-logarithmic model were used. A smoothing ratio (SR) was determined by dividing the SDE of reserves less the hypothesized smoothing variable by the SDE of ending reserve quantities. An SR greater than one indicates smoothing, and an SR less than one indicates that smoothing did not occur. The mean percentage revision and a t-test were used to test for positive or negative bias in the revisions. The mean absolute percentage revision was used to assess the relative variability of revisions. The number of companies classified as smoothers of oil reserves was statistically significant for the semi-logarithmic model but not for the linear model. Under both models the number of companies classified as smoothers of gas reserves was statistically significant. Few companies had mean percentage revisions that were significantly different from zero. The majority of companies had mean absolute revisions of under ten percent.</p>An Analysis of the Accounting System of the Quincy Mining Company: 1846-19002014-03-26T09:30:20-05:00http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc279183/<p><a href="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc279183/"><img alt="An Analysis of the Accounting System of the Quincy Mining Company: 1846-1900" title="An Analysis of the Accounting System of the Quincy Mining Company: 1846-1900" src="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc279183/small/"/></a></p><p>This historical study examines the evolution of the accounting system of the Quincy Mining Company between 1846 and 1900. The external financial reporting practices and internal accounting procedures of the firm are defined and interpreted in the context of three time periods that portray the formation, growth and maturation of the firm. Each period reflects unique economic and social conditions that are associated with changes in the firm's accounting system. A cross temporal analysis of these changes highlights three factors: the relationship between the accounting system and the labor force, the emergence of accounting as a control mechanism and the diminishing informational content of the firm's annual reports. Primary sources are used to document the perspectives of the Quincy management and to assess the motivations for accounting processes such as internal control, auditing procedures, responsibility centers and other managerial practices. This study addresses the inherent nature of accounting information and its relationship to the economic and social environment of an individual firm in the nineteenth century.</p>An Analysis of the Cost Accounting Literature of the United States from 1925 to 19502014-03-24T20:07:29-05:00http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278221/<p><a href="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278221/"><img alt="An Analysis of the Cost Accounting Literature of the United States from 1925 to 1950" title="An Analysis of the Cost Accounting Literature of the United States from 1925 to 1950" src="http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc278221/small/"/></a></p><p>This research examines the assertions made by Johnson and Kaplan (1987) that cost accounting lost relevance after 1925 due to the dominance of financial accounting, to an academic preoccupation with financial accounting, to the disappearance of engineers and to a managerial emphasis on financial measures of net income and earnings per share. Additionally, the research looks at environmental effects on cost accounting, both economic and governmental.</p>